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APPENDIX. 



DIFFICULTIES IN THE FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, 
NEW-YORK. 

[The subjoinetl Papers belong' to the collection beginning at p. 465 of this 
Vol. They are extracted from a pamphlet without title, of 34 pages, small 4to. 
printed by Wm. Bradford in New-York, and purchased for the State Library 
only quite recently.] 

MR. LEWIS ROU'S THIRD MEMORIAL, 

Containing some short Remarks upon the Answer of the Gentle- 
men of the French Consistory^ to the Petition presented to his 
Excellency in Council, by several Heads of Families of the 
French Church in Mew- York. 

It is impossible to take notice of all the Absurdities, Untruths, 
Mistakes, Shifts, Evasions and tilings foreign to the purpose, 
with the other Defects and Imperfections which are obvious in 
the Answer made by Mr. Moulinars and the rest of his Consisto- 
ry to the Petition presented to his Excellency and the honoura- 
ble Council of this Province, by several Pleads of families of our 
'Church. Whoever would undertake to answer every thing 
exactly which that long Writing containeth, must compose a 
large Volume, and in so doing, would only draw this matter 
needlessly into lengtli, which is perliaps the design of the 
Answerers. For wliich Reason it will be sufficient to make some 
particular observations. 

The 1st, and principal is. That all what they alledgein favour 
of their Rights and extraordinary Priviledges, and all that they 
object against me for to blacken me, and misrepresent me to his 
Excellency and the Council, all the venomous strokes scattered 
here and there in their Answer ; all this, I say, is nothing to the 
purpose, and doth not in the least relate to the true Point in 
dispute between us ; all this dotli in no sort justify their irregu- 
lar and unjust Proceeding against me, nor shew how they have 
been sufficiently authorized, or what Reason and lawful Power 
they had to turn me out of my office, and to refuse to pay me 



1160 DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

my Salary. In short, all tliis doth not at all, or very little con 
cern the Petition presented by tlie heads of Families to the Gov- 
eruoiu- in Council, nor the acts of Opposition and Protestation 
amiexed to it ; nor even that invidious Act which tliose Gentle- 
men passed in the Consistory against me, on the 20th of Septem- 
ber last. 

Since then the Artifice of the Answerers hath been to turn off 
the attention of his Excellency and his Council from the true 
state of the Question, to run upon considerations foreign and 
remote from the Subject, and into Cavils on matters which have 
not given occasion to our last Difference ; I think therefore that 
it is proper and necessary to bring them back to an enquiry into 
the matter of Fact itself, which we are a]x)ut, and which is ex- 
pressed in the Petition of the heads of Families of our Church, 
and in the two Papers thereto annexed. This Petition was pre- 
sented on account of a certain Instrument passed and signed 
against me, on the 20th of last September^ and on account of the 
unhappy Consequences, which it hath since had with Relation 
to our Church. Now as tliis Instrument, according to the Copy 
which it hath been thought fit to give me of it, containeth the 
Reasons and Motives which have engaged the present Consistory 
to undertake to turn me out of my office,. and to take aU the 
Steps which those Gentlemen have taken in pursuance thereof; 
it w^ould have been riglit to have produced this Instrument, such 
as it is, genuin or not, before his Excellency and the honourable 
Council, that they might the better judge of the bottom of the 
Dispute, and not suffer themselves to be amused by tlie subtle 
Evasions of the Answerers, who will often attempt to impose up- 
on them, if they are not upon their guard, as it may be expected 
from persons of their Wisdom and Justice. 

As this hath not yet been done, and is necessary to explain 
thro'ly, I desire earnestly, & before anything else, tliat this 
Instrument may be produced, with the Answers that I have 
already prepared, aud put into the hands of M'" Jilexander my 
Attorney. 

2. My second observation is on what they alledge, p. 2, in order 
to declare the Jurisdiction of his Excellency and the Council, in 
this Affair, or to divert them from taking tlie trouble of inter- 



FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW-YORK. 1161 

posing & intermeddling in our Dliferences, That " they acknow- 
" ledge no Jurisdiction in any Civil Court within this Province, 
" over the private Affairs of their Church, merely Consistorial, 
" and amongst themselves, &c." Indeed! this is astonishing, 
and what could not have been expected. Here are, if I am not 
mistaken, the true Principles of the Independents^ (b) so expressly 
condemned in our Discipline of France (See among the Observa- 
tions upon the 6th Chap, the Regulation^ made at the Synod of 
Clarenton^ in 1644, against those Sectaries, pag. 199 and 200, 
of tlie Editio in duocim. & p. 118. in 4to) and Tom. 2. in folio, 
p. 467. 

Here is a Principle capable of throwing us into Confusion and 
Disorder, as we see already by experience. Here is what 
openeth a door to all sorts of Irregularities and Extravagancies, 
and absolutely takes away all means of applying a Remedy. 
Here is a Maxim, not only very prejudicial to God's Church, 
but likewise very dangerous to the State, since it is easie to con- 
ceive the dreadful Consequences that will follow from it, if it 
took place. In fine, Here is a Principle which makes the Lot 
and Condition of a Minister persecuted among us, and in these 
Countries not only unliappy and dangerous, but even desperate, 
and witliout Relief To Refute this abominable Principle, and 
to shew how false it is, and liow contrary to the true Principles 
of Religion and the Constitution of our Churches, I need only 
Refer to the 46 .nrticle of the first Chapter of our Discipline, 
compared witli the 39 & 40 Articles of our Confession of Faith, 
& especially witli all our Books of Divinity, as for instance, that 
of M"" Pictet, Professor at Geneva, see his 2d Tom. p. 476, 477, 
478, where he treats this Question at length. Here also we may 
add the Scripture itself, see Rom. 13. v. 1,2. 1 Pet. 2, 13, 14, 
15, etc. 

My Third Ohservation is on what they are continually alledg- 
ii.g concerning their Freedom and Liberty Saving and Reserving 
to our selves now and at all times, the free use and exercise of that 
Liberty of Conscience helongvig and appertaining to the French 

(b) Yea, of the Papists themselves, see Fascicul, Epist. pap. 181, et 30, and 
feyn. Purior. Theol. p. m. 754, n. 21, &c., and Tur. Theol. Elen. T. 3, p. a53. 
4. n. 2. 



1162 DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

Refai'med Churches &c. Our Congregation which is made up of 
Members altogether free and voluntary^ and under no 7nanner of 
Compulsion and Restraint^ ^'c, p. 2. Our Foundationis laidzipon 
Freedom and Liberty of Coiiscience, &c. pag. 4. But w]iat! Is 
not this Privilege of Freedom and Liberty which they brag of, as 
much for Us as for Tliem? Have not we the same Riglit witli 
them'? And if 20 or 30 Persons, as they are, liave a Title to it, 
Hath not the rest of the Cliurcli, which makes up, by mucli, the 
Majority, the same Title, witli more Reason] And why tlien 
would they deprive the others of it1 Why would they make 
use of that Liberty^ whicli tliey enjoy only by the Bounty and 
Permission of the Government, under which we live, to oppress 
their Ministers and Brothers, witliout Cause, to the great Scandal 
of the Inliabitants of different nations who surround us, and 
even of the Jews^ who shew more liumanity, in this Case, than 
they? Why will they make use of it, to give the Law^ to the 
whole Cliurch, and to govern it Arbitrarily, as if they were Lords 
over God's Heritagel See their passage out of tlie first Epistle 
St. Peter, Cliap. 5. v. 3. Wliy did they make use of it to shut 
up the Church, as they did, on the 23d of September last, and to 
deny me the Liberty of performing tliere tlie ordinary Service 
of Prayer, and to deny the rest of the People the Liberty of as- 
sembling themselves there? Why do they make use of it still, 
with Obstinacy, to deprive above sixty or eighty Families, w^ho 
think tliemselves edified by my Ministry, to deprive them, T say, 
of tlie Instructions and spiritual Comforts, and, in short, of all 
the Service of a Minister, whose Return tliey demand, and who 
belongs to them, as well as to the others, and wh'.'m they can 
Re-estate when tliey please? I know tliese Gentlemen are free, 
but only let them take enre not to use their Liberty for a Cloak cf 
Maliciousness. It is St. Peter to whom they refer me, I don't 
know why, who gives tiiera this warning, see 1 Epist. ch. 2. 
V. K". 

4. Among their pretences to Liberty and Freedom, they lay a 
stress particularly on this, That "in the enjoyment of that 
" Liberty, or rather dispensation or Toleration, their method and 
" Rule (meaning tlie French Refugees) was to make an Agreement 
" with their Pastors and Ministers (that is to say) each Consistory 



FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW- YORK. 1163 

" for every particular Congregation, voluntarily and freely united 
" together, and entred into an Agreement with their Pastor and 
" Minister upon a certain special mutual Contract, whicli when 
" either Party failed in Performance of their part of tliat Con- 
" tract, the otlier was at liberty, and freed there-from on the 
" other part, and this no ways regarded by the Civil Government, 
" who took care only, &c. 

This is what I absolutely deny, and what they cannot prove. 
There is not one word said of it in any of tlie Agreements or 
Contracts which liave been made with me and Mr. Moulinars^ 
nor in those of any of our Churches with their Ministers. If, 
however they pretend that such a Clause ought to be pre-stipposed, 
I say, that tliis can't be, unless witli such large Restrictions and 
Limitations as would be no ways of Service to them in the Affair 
between us. The first of these Limitations is. That if such a 
Principle ought to be admitted in some sort, it must be supposed 
likewise, that there is a competent and unsuspected Judge, who 
may determine between tlie two Parties, which liath failed and 
neglected to perform their part of the Contract ; For if it is left 
to each Party to have a Riglit to decide who is in the Wro7ig, 
and so be botli Judge and Party in their own Cause, this will 
bring Confusion and Disorder into the Church, and abolish that 
Justice and Equity which ouglit to be the Rule of all Agreements. 

The second Limitation, is That in case of failure in either Party, 
regard should be had to the nature and circumstances of such 
Failure, to judge if they are of sufficient Importance to deserve, 
that a breach of Contract should follow. For if Pretence is 
taken from the least failure, or any sort of failure whatsoever, 
to break a Bargain made between Persons wlio are bound to one 
anotlier forever thereby, at this rate, (taking every tiling in the 
utmost strictness) we should open the Door to all sorts of, 
Breaclies : All Marriages will be dissolved, all Engagements 
between Parents and Cliildren, and between Masters & Servants, 
woidd be annulled ; and to confine my self to tlie subject which 
we are upon, there would not be «ne Minister wlio could remain 
six Months peaceably in his Cliurclt, Fur either the Cluirch 
might complain that the Minister luid failed in liis Duty, or the 
Minister might alledge, that the Churcli liad not furnished Iiim 



1164 DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

with necessaries, or had failed either in Respect or Affection, or 
Obedience or Submission to liim, or liad acted contrary to some 
Article of the Contract made between tliem, or to some point of 
Discipline which the Church was engaged to observe, as well as 
he, and so on, &c. (for I have now touch'd upon the present 
Case) And hereupon each of the Parties might imagine them- 
selves respectively to have a Right to annul their Bargain, and 
to provide themselves otherwise ; whence a Thousand ill Conse- 
quences would follow, easie to be imagined, and very prejudicial 
to the Quiet, Peace, Edification and Preservation of the Church. 

Besides, we might by this means abolish the Exercise of 
Charity, of Christian Toleration, of mutual Forbearance, and of 
the Forgiveness of Injuries and Faults, &c. We might thus 
introduce the manner of Turks and Barbarians^ and even worse, 
into all Christian Churches. I should think it would be much 
better to follow herein charitable Counsels, and to remember what 
the Apostle St. James tells us. That he shall have Judgment with- 
out Mercy, that hath shewed no Mercy, ch. 2. v. 13. 

The Third and last Restriction or Limitation which must be 
applyed to the Principle here advanced by the Answerers, is, 
That the Cognizance of all these Differences, which often have 
an Influence on Civil and Temporal Concerns belongeth either to 
Ecclesiastical Judges, or to Civil and Lay Judges. So that where 
the Ecclesiastical Judges, to Avliom generally the Determination 
belongeth, are too remote, as hatli been often said upon this occa- 
sion, the Cognizance thereof naturally devolveth upon the Civil 
and Lay Judges, who have likewise some Right, Power and 
Inspection over Ecclesiastical Affairs, according to our Discipline 
and Books of Divinity, as appears by the Passages which I have 
already cited. And how then can tlie Answerers tell us, That 
this is no loay regarded by the Civil Government ? They will 
excuse me if I tell them, that they do not well understand the 
matter. 

5. And now, what shall I answer to so many loose, general 
and indetermined Accusations and Reproaches, v/ith which they 
fill up their Answers against me ? 'Tis their part to explain 
themselves more fully lierein, and to specific the particular 
Facts ; for otherwise it is impossible for me to justifie myself, 



FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, KEW-YORK. Il65 

as my Lawyers inform, me. For instance, tliey insinuate, pag. 
4 That / have not per fanned my Engagement ^ and that 1 faged in 
my Duty. But it belongs to tliem to shew in what I have failed 
in Pcrformajice of our Agreements : I have endeavored to fulfill 
them according to my weak Ability, and if every thing were 
examined in a strict equitable sence, I may one day let them 
see, that I liave done more than I had obliged myself to do, 
as well by the first as by the third of our Agreements • for as to 
the second, it reliites only to the Salary. 

They say, / have broached Innovations amongst them^ contrary 
to the said Contract and the Constitution of our Church. But it 
belongs to them to shew what these Innovations dive^ and how they 
are contrary either to my Engagements, or to the Constitution 
of our Churches^ or to the Principles received among us, and 
whetlier their dear Moulinars may not be as much, or more justly 
accused of them than I. 

They say, Tliat I have put them at Defiance^ with many opjjro- 
hrious and vile Expressions^ Sfc. But it belongs to them to make 
good Proofs of the Facts, and by credible Witnesses. And 
besides, who has ever lieard that a Minister w^as deposed, and 
the payment of his Salary refused him, on account of ill ground- 
ed Suspicimis, or words hastily spoken, and perhaps wrongfully 
reported, and to which tliemselves may have given just occasion? 
Don't tliey fall thereby under the Censure which God hatli de- 
clared by the Prophet haiah against those that make a Man ari 
a fender for a Word, and lay a snare for hivi that Reproveth in the 
Gate, and turn aside the Just for a thing of Jf ought ? — ch. 29, v. 21 . 

In order to support these fine Suspicions, which, without Rea- 
son, tliey have taken of me, and the Defiance to which (they say) 
I liave put them, tliey would insinuate, as it seems, " That I and 
my Subscribers are minded to set up another French Congrega- 
tion in Mew-York by ourselves, or to go over to the Church of 
England, as by Law Established, or the Presbyterian - - - - 
Profession [Here is something whicli their Malice hath thought 
of, but they have not thought fit to express it.] And all this 
they advance or suggest witliout ground and against this some 
of our Subscribers have already prepared an authentic Declara- 
tion. I find them very extraordinary in telling us, That in such 



1166 DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

case they do not freteiid to have, use or exercise any Coercive Pow- 
er to Restrain or Punish us foi' it, much less to Compel us to RetwTi 
to them, ^'c. We know that very well, and we think it the in- 
terest of the English, both Ejiiscopaliaois and Presbyterians to 
make their Reflections hereupon, and to judge of the Imperti- 
nence and Silliness of such an Allegation. 

But they have still more Assurance when they tell us, That 
they are not insensihle of the Methods I have taken to get a number 
of Subscriptions in my favour. It was not possible to take a 
fairer and more direct Method than I have done, to make all tlie 
members of tlie Church explain tliemselves as fully as I could 
upon tlie Important Aifalr now in question. But these Gentle- 
men ought to blush at tlie unworthy and fraudulent manner 
which they have used to bring in People to sign against me, 
making them believe that it was for the peace and good of the 
Church ; and thus abusing the sacred name of Peace, and covering 
themselves with the Cloak of Hypocrisie, without shewing this 
poor People, or at ^.ast without reading to several of them the 
Writing which they would have them sign. 

" They were not ignorant either (they say) of my Contrivances 
" to remove the Jurisdiction of this matter to another Judicature." 
What is this Jurisdiction that I would decline % If they mean 
their own, they are in the right of it, and I am not in the wrong, 
since they are my Adverse Party, and I hope no body will blame 
me for this. What is that other Judicature whither I would 
carry the affair ? One may see plainly that they have here his 
Excellency in view, who camiot be obliged to them for thus 
disputing his Right of Judicature. For why shall not any one 
apply to him, in case the affair be proper for him to take notice 
of? And why should not I apply myself to him, if there is 
occasion, because it may be thought he has entertain'd some 
favourable Dispositions towards me ? especially since I ask liini 
no Favour, but only Justice ? 

They Reproach me afterwards, being prompted by their own 
Passion and Hatred against me, with having Heat, a?2d a violent 
Temper ; I will not make any Apology for my own Temper, which 
I think needless, and indecent in any man to do. But I advise 
them rather to look back upon themselves, and consider their 



FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW -YORK. 1167 

own Faults more than those of their Neighbours, that they may 
not incur the Censure whicli our Saviour Jesas Christ pronounceth 
in the Gospel against all proud Reprovers of otliers ; Why he- 
holdest thou the mote that is in thy Brothers Eye, but consider est 
not the Beam that is in thy own Eye ? or how xvilt thou say to thy 
Brother, let me pull ozit the Mote out of thine Eye, and behold a 
beam is in thine oion Eye 1 Thou Hypocrite, first cast out the Beam 
oui of thine own Eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the 
mote out of thy Brothers Eye. Math. 7., 3, 4, 5. 

They boast p. 5. That they also passed the like Censure formerly 
against other Frencli Protestant Ministers for their Offences, 
which being particular to themselves the Governvicnt for the time 
being loas never made privy to it, &c. and although the then Gov- 
eiviours might have heard thereof, yet did they never interpose or 
meddle therein, &c. Tliere is a great deal of difference, with 
their leave, between tliese Cases and the present one. And on 
tills occasion many things might be observed, wliicli would not 
do them a great deal of honoui-, and which w^ould revive some 
scandalous particulars, which it is convenient for them, sliould 
remain buried in oblivion; wherefore Vi\Qj would have done 
better to liave said notliing of it, since likewise it hath nothing 
in common with tlie Affair we are now upon. For ray part, I 
shall not trouble my self with wh^at they have done with relation 
to otliers, I believe they never did any thing that was right witli 
their Ministers, chiefly wlien tiiey have been at variance with 
them. I know they have always been at war with them, to 
begin from the time Mr. Daille; and that the late Mr. Peiret, 
who was a worthy Minister, lived in tormeuL among tlioni, as 
some very credible Persons who were liis friends, have assured 
me; I know that they have put their Mhiisters out, and liiatthey 
always pretended to a Power to do it, and that tlicy will always 
attempt it, as often as tlie Fancy takes tliem. But the time is 
come, wlicn they must learn, tliat they have not tliis Power 
and Authority, according, to our Discipline, and that as for me, 
(Saving always liis Majesty's Authority over me, wlio am liis 
Naturalized Subject) I depend only in Spirituals on the Synod 
of the Walloon Churches of Holland, wlio alone can suspend or 
deprive me. \i Gaoernours formerly have not interposed or inter- 



1168 DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

meddled in their Jlffairs^ it was, I suppose, because no body 
applyed to tliem to represent their Complaints and Grievances, 
and perhaps, because no person belonging to the Church, con- 
cerned or declared themselv'es in favour of the Ministers whom 
they would speak of. But that is not the Case at present, since 
there is a Majority of the Church, wlio have declared themselves 
in my favour, or who desire earnestly that I may be Re-estab- 
lisiied, and who do not approve what the Consistory hath done. 
Wliat do they mean by those Passages of St. Peter and Ezekiel, 
which they quote with an affectation of Piety, tho' at the same 
time they discover an insolent Contempt and bitter Malice 
against all the Body of the Ministers of Jesus Christy devoted to 
the j^reaching of his holy Gospell whom they call that set of Man- 
kind devoted^ fyc. As for the Passage of St. Peter (1 Epist. ch. 
5. V. 2, 3.) wliich instructs us all in our duty, and ought to 
make us think with liumility of our own weaknesses and 
failings, their malicious Reflections will not hinder us Ministers 
from finding our Comfort in tliis Passage, while we find notliing 
in it, but what we study to do by the grace of God, according to 
our ability, and what we incessantly ask of him in our prayers. 
As to the passage of the Prophet Ezekiel, (if I did not fear to lay 
open in too strong a light tlie Infirmities of some of my flock, 
over wliicli it is proper to draw a vail) I could call out of tlie 
Crowd these Diseased Sheep, whom I have strengthened, and the 
broken whom I have hound up, &c. (Ezek. 34. v. 4.) And who 
can testifie whether this Passage liath been well applyed by them; 
or no; But I should he imprudent in glorying, 2 Cor. xii. 11. tho' 
I am compelPd in my defence, it is better to wait for that time, 
when, it any of us have done nell, every man shall have praise 
of God, 1 Cor. 4. 5. Instead of stopping at that verse of Ezekiel, 
and at tlie first part of the Cliapter, where they have maliciously 
been searching, wherewitlial to sthig their Minister, and wherein 

M: turns his own Accuser, they had better have 

read on wliat follows from the ICtli & 17th verses, to the 22d. 
inclusive, and to take good heed to what God saith by liis 
Prophet, now no longer to had Shepherds, but to had Sheep, to 
Sheep that rebel, tliat will not bear Teaching, and that are stub- 
born and headstrong, that are fat and strong, &c. v. 16. confer 



FRENCH PROTESTANT CHLTRCH, NEW-YORK. 1169 

Rynos 4. V. 1. Which Characters are so well described by the 
Prophet, that one would think tliat he had carried his Views as 
liir as to our Times and Circumstances. 

While they cite these passages, they talk of the Corruption of 
Manners which had crept into that set of Mankind devoted to the 
preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But not to speak of 
the Clergy, I say, that this general Complaint of the Corruption 
of Manners^ cannot be better applyed than to the horrible 
Scandals whicli we have seen all along break out in this Church, 
and to the Disorders, Divisions, and other sins, against which I 
have so often cryed aloud, Esa. 58. 1. and w^hich have, no doubt, 
drawn upon her the displeasure of God Almighty, through which 
she is now threatened with an entire Ruin and Dissipation, or 
at least with an unhappy Schism and Rent. 

To obtain the favour of the Englisli, they begg leave humbly to 
offer (c) that they cannot be called Dissenters from the Church 
of England, as by Law established. But who, do they think to 
impose upon by this empty Compliment, so meanly expressed 1 
Not surely those of tlie English, w^ho are' Affectionate to their own 
Clmrcli, and who cannot be so easily catched. The Society and 
all til e Episcopal Ministers hereabouts know them too well, to 
suffer themseh-es to be blinded by such smooth Expressions. 
They have always been Eneiiiys of the Church of England as by 
Law established, they have always railed at her Liturgy, her 
Service, her Church Government, and her Ceremonies. It is long 
ago that the late Bisliop of London, Doctor Henry Compton con- 
veyed his Complaints to them on tliis subject, by the Consistory 
of tlie Walloon Church in London, for tliat they shew^ed themselves 
worse than the Dissenters in England themselves. In opposition 
lo this JYational Church they have entertained and fomented for 
several years a scandalous schism at JYcw-Rochel, where the 
incapacity of providing for a Minister, obliged the Inhabitants 
*o establish an Episcopal Church, tliro' the Bounty and Protec- 
tion of the Society in England, and they would still suj^port 
this schism, if their M . . . . A\'as not taken up in the 
Custody of our Church, of whicli he keeps the keys, in order 
to keep me out unjustly. In short, they have always looked upon 

(c) Fistula dulce canit volucrem ilum decipit auoeps. 

Vol. in. 7-1 



1170 DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

my Inclination, Esteem and Respect fur the Church of England 
as a Crwie in me. They have conceived at length such Mistrust 
and Suspicion thereof, that tliey have not been able to dissemble 
it in the last Meeting of the heads of ramilies, on the 20th of 
Septe7nher, so that it is I, and several of my Subscribers who have 
a Right to say, that We cannot be called Dissenters from the 
Church of England, no more than were our Ministers in France, 
and all the wisest and most moderate among the Refugees in 
E7igland, and all over the Protestant world. 

They say at last, That they are not indebted unto me one Far 
thing for all the time that I have served them. But this must be 
examined and enquired into in due time. In the mean while, I 
give them notice, tliat they owe me One Quarters Salary, which 
is past, and that at Easter they will owe me Two. If I have not 
served them during all this time, it is they who have hindred 
my doing it, by discharging me from my Functions, as they have 
done, and which they now dissemble through deep Malice. 
They add to this, " That if any Person or Persons amongst them 
" have done me any personal Injury, the Laws of England aiid of 
" this Colony are open, and that there are Courts of Law and Justice, 
" and that there are Deputies, who may call them to account.'''' Tis 
well, I am glad to liear it, I accept their Invitation, and I am 
of opinion, according to their advice, if I cannot obtain satisfac- 
tion otherways, to call them into Court, on account of the Injus- 
tice and Injury which they do me, and particularly of tliat which 
their Treasurer Mr. Barherie doth me, in refusing me my Pay- 
ment, when at the same time he has Money of mine in his hands: 
and besides of that which Mr. Moidinars doth me, in detaining 
my Church from me, by keeping the keys and by taking posses- 
sion of my place, which is a remarkable Usurpation, for which I 
will demand Restitution and Reparation from him. 

They end with signifying, They presume that His Excellency 
and the Ilmourable Board will Reject the Petitioners said Petition 
mid Complaint, &c. But we hope tliat this honourable Body will 
act otherwise, and that in their great Prudence they will judge 
better than we can, tliat our Request is both just, lawful and 
well grounded. Lewis Rou, 

Kew For/c, Febr. 18. 1724, 5. Minister of the French Church. 



FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW-YORK. 1171 

Postscrij^t, containing some furtlier Observations 
On the same Answer of Mr. Moulinars. 

Speaking of the French Protestants in tlie Kingdom of Frujicej 
they say, " So tliat it was not in tlieir Power ever to Compel any 
" of the Frencli Subjects to submit unto their Discipline and 
" Government, nor to Restrain -or Punish any of their Number 
" wlio had submitted to their Form of Worship, Doctrine, 
" Discipline and Government, w^ho were minded to forsake 
" them, and alter their Profession, &c. 

I don't know to what purpose, nor to what end they tell us 
all this, neither do I know wliat Consequence they will draw 
from it, nor wiiat Advantage tliey pretend to get by it, this 
seeming rather to be against themselves, since they pretend now 
to a Power to Compel me and to Force me to sign what they 
will, against all Reason and Equity. 

But leaving there what they mean by it, I say, that this is not 
true. Let any one read the Preface of our Discipline, and look 
on the 16, 17, and 31, 32 Articles of the 5tli Chapter of the 
same, besides a great many others, and he'll see what great Power 
our Protestants had in France^ to Compel and Restrain or Punish 
any of their Number, who had submitted to their form of 
Worship, &,c. by means of their Ecclesiastical Censures, Excom- 
munication, Suspension, &c. 

Speaking of me, they say, " Such Contract we made with Mr. 
" Rou &,c. and since he has been amongst us, whilst he behaved 
" himself conformable to his Agreement, and for his Encour- 
^' agement so to continue, did come to a second Agreement, Sic." 
Here they would insinuate that I liave not always performed my 
Agreement, and that there has been one time when I behaved 
myself conformal)le to it, and another time wlien I did not so. 
But this is entirely false ; I have always performed my Agree- 
ment in the same manner, and there lias been but little difference: 
So that if I have failed in the Performance of it in those last 
times, it must be supposed and said, that I have also failed in the 
beginning, and that, if I have behaved my self conformable to 
it at one time, viz. in the beginning, the same must be said of 
the last times with more reason. They have also been always 
very well satisfied of my Service in the Church when they had 



*172 DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

no particular occasion of Anger against me ; And they have 
shewn to all People in the Town a great satisfaction of it, &c. 
So that it is their Passion and their Fanc}^ that makes them 
content or discontent about that, witliout reason in the last point, 
and we may apply to them what Horace saj^s of himself, Ep. I. 
lib. I. 

Rides: quid, mca quum pugnat sententiasecum; 
Quod petiit sper7iit; repetit quod nuper omisit: 
jEstuaf, et vitce disconvenit ordine toto, 
Diruit, (Zdijicat, mutal quadrata rotundls I 

" Arfd as our Congregation encreased, we did hkewase send for 
" another Minister, &c. pag. 3. 

Their Congregation was not Increased^ but rather diminished 
when they sent for another Minister, but their ill Humour and 
Malice against me was much increased at that time, by some 
particular occasions that we know^ ; they sent for this Minister 
only to vex me, and plague me, as it appears, and Brigadier 
Hunter^ w^ho saw^ this very well, w^arned and foretold Mr. D. L. 
of all the Divisions and Troubles that we now see in our Church. 

And this lasted until we came to find Mr. Ron to flag in his Duty 
kc. j)ag. 4. Since when they have found meto flagg inviy Duty? 
if you will believe me, it is since this Governour has been here, 
and they have found that lie did me the honour of granting me 
part in his friendship and Familiarity tho' I have no less per- 
formed my Duty in preaching since that time, than I did before ; 
So that it is their Malice, Envy and Jcalousie that has made 
them find out what they could not see otherwise. Observe the Cir- 
cumstances and the Context of their Answer in this place, and 
you II find it as I say. 

And aliho'' we often in a friendly manner requested him to Return 
to his Duty and j^erforni his Contract, &c. p. 4. 

They have never requested me any tiling in a fricjidly niSLuner 
towards my Duty, and tlie}' had no occasion nor reason of doing 
it, but they have often scoled, railed and grumbled in an 
unfriendly manner about a few Sermons, wlien tliey had some 
particular occasions of being angry or fretful against me. What 
they say here, is meer Malice and Hypocrisy. 

6. He still persisted ?ioticithsta7iding to pwsue his oicm humour ^ 
&-C. p. 4. What humour, or whose humour must I pursue tlien^ 



FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW- YORK. 1173 

if I have not the liberty of my own, as they seem to pretend ? 
Must I follow or pursue their Humour, or those of the JYormandsj 
of the Picards^ of the Rochelers, of the Poitevins, of the Langue- 
docians, of tlie Xamtongers, of the Gascons^ of the Bretoofis, of the 
Jlngoumoisins^ of the Bearnois^ or of the Dauphinois ? But I liave 
never been in tliese Provinces, and I find a great many faults in 
their Inhabitants, so tliat I think it better for me to pursue my 
own Humor, that is to say, those "bf a right French-man of no 
Province at all, but who was born in Holland and Naturalized 
an English-man. 

7. " If Mr. Rou will desert the Consistory, when met, and 
" refuse to come, when sent for, how are we to blame that he has 
" not been heard (as he is pleased to say) p. 4. I have already 
answered to this Allegation at large, in my second Memorial, 
and that is the reason why I have said nothing of it in this Reply. 
I shall only add here. That since they have found the way to my 
House, after they had passed this unjust sentence against me 
(of which I complain) to declare it to me in my face, why did 
they not take the same Method before they passed tlie same, to 
read it to me, or to send me, at least, those Papers which they had 
prepared to Condemn me, in order that I might have been able 
to defend myself, &c 1 

" Tliey cannot be forgetful (they say afterwards) " of that 
" most gracious Declaration or Saying of our most gracious 
" Sovereign Lord King George^ upon his Accession to the Throne 
" of Great Britairi, That the Indulgejice and Toleration granted by 
" Law to Scrupulous Consciences was no ways inconsistent with the 
" Civil Sj' Religious Constitution of the Kingdom.^ §"c." What shall 
I answer to this impertinent and Sycopliantick Discourse 1 

VUra sauromalas fu^ere hinc lihet et glacialem 
Oceanum, &c. Juven. sat. 2. 

Pray, What has the Indulgence and Toleration granted by Law 
to Scrupulous Consciences in common, with the Persecution and 
Oppression of which I and my Subscribers complain 1 What 
Scruple of Conscience can perswade them to depose or deprive 
their own Minister, and to take away his Living, without Reason, 
without the least cause or colour of Justice, for a Bickering, for 
a thing of nought, and that without the Authority and Power 



1174 ■ DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

they should have for what they do 1 What scrupulous Conscience 
can perswade them to deprive the Congregation who think (as I 
have said) themselves Edified by my Ministry, of the Pastoral 
Cares and Service of a Minister wlio belongs to them, whom they 
have called here from Europe^ and have made perpetual Pastor 
of the Church 1 We know that the Indulgence and Toleration 
gra?ited by Law to scruptilous Consciences, is no ways inconsistc7it 
with the Civil and Religious Constitution of the Kingdom. But we 
know at the same time, that nothing is more Inconsistent with the 
Civil and Religious Constitution of the Kingdom than Persecu- 
tion, Oppression, Violence, Tyranny, hijustice, Uncharity Usurpa- 
tion of others Rights, &c. of all whicli they given a scandaious 
Example, in his Majesty's Dominions not to be suSer'd ; k we do 
therefore, in all humble manner presume, That if our most 
gracious King George could hear of it, he would not be muoU 
obliged to them for thus their intermeddling with his sacred 
Majesty, and mis-using his most gracious Declaration upon his 
accession to the Throne of Great Britain, in order to support & 
authorize their Barbarous Proceedings, and thus for giving a just 
cause of Complaining of the same to his Reformed Subjects, or 
perhaps an occasion to his Enemies and Adversaries of eluding 
or retorting the Complaints and Christian Representations He 
has been pleased to make, in favour of other Protestants, to some 
Popish Princes, upon the like Matters. 

L.R. 

The last Discourse presented to the Consistory from Mr. Rou's 
part, in order for an amicable Agreement. 
As much as I can apprehend by the Answer which the Gen- 
tlemen of the Consistory have lately given to the Deputies who 
presented themselves before tliem, on my behalf, as well as on 
behalf of our Flock (whicli answer has been only verbally com- 
municated to me, the Consistory not having thought fit to give 
it in writing, as in reason and justice they ought to have done) 
it appears to me, That though these Gentlemen have so expresly 
profess'd their Disposition to Peace, and to enter into an Amica- 
ble Agreement about our Differences yet they will make none 
ait all, except upon such Conditions as have been disputed 



PROTESTANT FRENCH CHURCH, NEW-YOR¥ 1175 

already so mucli these six Months past, and upon which we 
shall always dispute, till there comes a Decision to put an end 
to tliese Debates. 

Tlicse Conditions (according to what has been reported to me) 
are, 1st. That before anything else, I shall acknowledge the Elders 
lately elected in our Church, to be duly and lawfully elected. 

2dly. That I shall subscribe the Act of their Confirmation or 
Reception incerted in the Registers. 

3dly. That 1 shall likewise Promise to hold myself inviolably 
ttl<iched or addict to the Discipline and Constitution of our 
Churches. 

4thly. That J shall likewise promise to submit my self, for the 
future, on the Decisions of the Cwsistory. 

To which they have added, for the 6fh Article, That if I would 
lot accept of these Conditions, TheyHl refer the Judginent of this 
Affair to the Consii,iory of the Dutch Church in this City. 

To answer precisely and in a few words, to every one of these 
Lrticles, I say upon the first, what I have already repeated 
«£veral times, viz. That I acknowledge these Gentlemen, as I 
have always done, and according to the manner by which they 
have been elected, that is to say, for Elders elected by the 
majority of the Votes, and with my Opposition. I cannot say 
any more of it, since there is nothing more in the truth of the 
fact itself ; and since it sliall always remain true till the end of 
the World, That they have been elected in tliis manner, and not 
otherwise. But as for the Question, Whetlier they have been 
duly and lawfully Elected, that is another matter, and they should 
do.^ery well to say nothing of it, lest tliey should give me occa- 
csion to reveal the whole mystery and secret practice, which yet 
lies silent. As for my part, I don't believe they have been duly 
and lawfully elected, & I have laid the Reasons of it in two long 
Memorials tliat I have prepared upon this, and whicli, perhaps, 
will be produced one day or another. This being supposed, it 
is not just nor reasonable that I should be forced and constrained 
in my Opinion, or that I should declare any thing contrary to 
what I think of it. Nay suppose it was an Error or Obstinacy 
in me, thej ought to let the People alone in their Error or Obsti- 



1176 DIFFICULTIES IN THE 

nacy, witliout pretending to constrain or compel them, or 
Tyranize them for their Thoughts. 

Upon the second Article, I say, That tlio' I have desired, by 
Letter, a Copy of that Act of the Confirmation or Reception of 
the Elders, yet I have not had the favour of it. Wherefore, to 
say, that I will sign it before I see it, cannot be expected: Eut 
if it contains nothing But Truth, I am ready to sign itj or if it 
should contain what is not, I am ready to testifie, by my Sub- 
scription, all that I know to be Truth concerning that Affair, 
the chief of w^hich is, Tliat the Elders were chosen by the 
Majority of the Voices of the Consistory, and ■jn'th my 
Opposition. 

Upon the Third Article^ I consent to hold my self inviolably 
attached to the Discipline and to the Constitution of our Churches, 
which I have always here-to-fore been, and as much as c^ui be 
in this Country, where we liave not the means \ThicIi we have in 
France, to Regulate our Affairs. But I hope, that they them- 
selves will hold them also attaclied to this Discipline and this 
Constitution j for if they don't, they have no reason to hold 
another to it. 

Upon the Fourth, I have to answer, as I have here-to-fore 
answered on the same Subject, That willingly I will submit my 
self to the Decisions of the Consistory, so far as tlie Constitution 
and Discipline of our Churches require, and in all other tilings 
that are Just and Reasonable, and agreeable to the Word of God, 
to Truth, to Charity, and to Equity ; and I don't believe tliat a 
Reformed Protestant ought to engage himself otherwise to Submit 
to the Decision of any Body in the World, since he cannot 
submit himself blindly and without Examination, as I have 
shewed in my second Memorial. They must not ask here, Who 
shall judge of what is Just and Reaso7iable ? For this is speaking 
as the Papists do, and I shall answer as a Calvimst, Tliat the 
Word of God shall be Judge That Reason shall be Judge, That 
Charity shall be Judge, Tliat Justice and Equity shall be Judge, 
&c. provided that People are Just, and Equitable, and Reasonable 
lovers of Truth, &c. 

Fifthly. As for Referring the Decision of all this Affair to the 
Consistory of the Butch Church, T have already signified in the 



FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW- YORK. 1177 

precedent Discourse, (wliicli has beeen delivered to the Gentle- 
men of tlie Consistory) the Inconveniences wliich I found therein, 
and ifris easie to perceive several otliers. I shall only add here. 
That to refer the Judgment of a Sentence Consistorial to another 
Consistory^ who are not of our Body, and who liave no Authority 
over us, to decide our Affairs and Differences, and even to whom 
we cannot commodiously explain our selves, to understand one 
another. This doth not at all seem to me an Equivalent of an 
Jlppeal to a Colhqtcy, and much less to a Provincial or National 
Synod^ it is however of Kational Equity^ nnd no doubt, of the Spirit 
of our Discipline (as the Gentlemen of the Walloon Church in 
London do express themselves in their letter) that this Equivalent 
should he managed and reserved for Me. As' to which I pray God 
there may be no further need of searching for, and that this my 
Answer to the Propositions may give Satisfaction to all. 
Bone at JYew York the 10th Lewis Rou, Min. 

of Jpril, 1724, 5. 



FINIS. 



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